“We are excited to partner with Megmilk Snow Brand, one of the largest dairy companies in Japan, to further our capabilities downstream in the plant protein extraction business. This is Agrocorp’s second major investment in protein extraction after our first facility in Saskatechewan, Canada and we hope to be able to service the growing demand in Asia for plant-based food,” said Vishal Vijay, director of strategic investments, Agrocorp International.
This joint venture seeks to leverage the strengths of both companies and will see the setting up of a factory in Malaysia to manufacture soy-free plant protein products like pea protein, pea starch and pea fibre. Pea protein can be used in a variety of plant-based food applications in plant-based beverages, plant-based meats, as well as in plant-based cheese, such as the vegan cheeses by our downstream brand, HerbYvore. The factory is expected to commence production in late 2025.
Peas have a high nutritional value and health benefits. Not only are they high in protein, fibre, vitamins, and minerals, they are also non-allergenic and environmentally sustainable. Legumes like peas are plants that contribute to nitrogen fixation, containing symbiotic bacteria called Rhizobia within nodules in their root systems, producing nitrogen compounds. Nitrogen is a major component of protein and a required nutrient for plants. Peas, or other legumes, in the crop rotation usually lead to lower needs for mineral and organic nitrogen fertilisers, which contribute to 25% of the total direct greenhouse gas emissions by agriculture in the EU.
